You must be in fellowship prior to your Bible study, so that the spiritual information you receive can become a source, of blessing to your soul and produce spiritual growth.Heb. 11:2828 Through faith [pistis] he kept [poieo] the passover [pascha], and [kai] the sprinkling [proschusis] of blood [haima], lest [hina me] he that destroyed [olothreuo] the firstborn [prototokos] should touch [thiggano] them [autos]. KJV-Interlinear28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the first-born might not touch them. NASB

Nine plagues spread over Egypt pounding them for their rejection of Gods will. And even after all of these plagues, which came in rapid succession, Pharaoh was still defiant against God.

The tenth plague was to be the worst of them all. Out of the Pharaoh's own mouth came the order that would be applied against himself and the whole nation of Egypt.

In preparation of the tenth plague, God instructed Moses to have the people sacrifice a lamb on the appointed day. The blood of the lamb was to be spread (or sprinkled) on the door posts of each believing house. When the destroyer came to take the lives of all the first born of man and beast, He would 'passover' those homes who were obedient to this command - the homes that spread the lambs blood on their door posts.

Ex. 11:5
5 and all the first-born in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first-born of the Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the first-born of the slave girl who is behind the millstones; all the first-born of the cattle as well. NASB

Ex. 12:7
7 'Moreover, they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two door posts and on the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. NASB

Ex. 12:27
' It is a Passover sacrifice to the LORD who passed over the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians, but spared our homes.' 'And the people bowed low and worshiped. NASB

Not only were the Israelites (and anyone else who obeyed this command) to make their sacrifices and paint their door posts, but they were to remain dressed and ready to travel at a moments notice. For when the command came to move out, the entire nation of the Hebrews was going to leave Egypt.

Ex. 12:11
11 'Now you shall eat it in this manner: with your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste  it is the Lord's Passover. NASB

Here is the setting. The people have a command from God. A God whom they have never seen. A God from whom they had not received any commands through any prophet for over four hundred years. No one alive had even spoken to God. All they had was the writings which had been preserved from older generations, and the stories that were handed down from generation to generation.

And, they had Moses. Moses was a man who was raised in the house of Pharaoh. He was driven out, branded as a murderer. He remained absent from Egypt for forty years. And now he returns and says that he has spoken to God and this is the command.

The plagues would serve to reinforce the beliefs of the people. But even while the plagues were occurring, the people became disenchanted with Moses, as Pharaoh became harder against them. Just as he hardened his heart against God.

Any one who rejects God for whatever reason, will experience a hardening of their own heart (soul). When this occurs, eventually the soul will black out and once that happens, there is no possibility of recovery. As long as you can reason right from wrong and understand the choices and repercussions of each, then there is hope for you.

Pharaoh had gone beyond that point in his life. He was defiant toward God to the extreme. Likewise he was enthusiastic toward the false gods of Egypt. Kind of an interesting parallel with the Islamic cartoons in the news of recent days and the reactions to them. Evil people will always become fanatics. The Tribulation will be a picture of this principle to the maximum, worldwide.

The Israelites had nothing but the word of Moses and several recent plagues to convince them. They also had fear - the fear of God. 'Paint your doors or die forever separated from God.' That paint in blood was their only defense against the armies of Pharaoh.

Now they feared God more than Pharaoh.

Pharaoh was coming with his army. He was coming to destroy the first born of Israel. But mans plans for history are often set aside and never allowed to come to their completion.

That night, faith took hold of the households of Israel and they sat in their homes knowing that two fighters were coming - God and Pharaoh. Pharaoh they could see. Pharaohs army they could understand. Death by the sword they knew only too well. Gods angel of death was something else entirely. It could not be seen, it could not be heard. But Gods will is thorough. There is nowhere that a person can hide from Gods wrath.

Then the evening came and all that could be heard was not the wheels of chariots, and the commands of soldiers, but the cries of death and grieving from the homes of Egypt.

The Israelites, waited in their homes for one command from Moses. That command came quickly. Pharaoh ordered Moses out, the trumpets sounded, and the new nation of Israel very quickly took all of their belongings and they moved out of Egypt. Slavery had been defeated and freedom had been born with the death of the first born. Freedom is never free.

Those who believed and were obedient. Emphasis on the obedient part. Faith is meaningless if there is no obedience accompanying it. Thus spiritual growth is mandatory if one is to receive the full benefit which God has to offer for the spiritual life.

And again, for those who believed and were obedient, comes not only deliverance from slavery (eternal condemnation) to Egypt (sin), but freedom and blessing (the benefits of faith and obedience).

Now is the time to post a prayer.

End Of Lesson

Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth.